G. Patton Hughes

Every political campaign, whether local, state or national, is a battle of competing narratives. The role of the media in general – this includes editorial, advertising and in the case of hyperlocal news/social sites conversation – is to serve as vehicles for the competing narratives. Candidates attach themselves to these narratives and voters choose. The […] more »

If all politics are local, then hyperlocal media of sorts should be in tall cotton when it comes to local politics. No so and not now; rather hyperlocal media is at best a big thorn in the side of the key group that determines where the big buck political money goes. That key group is […] more »

I’ve attended a few conferences and it appears to me that most folks in journalism hate advertising. Maybe that comes from seeing the last eight inches of their story end up on the composing room floor to make room for another two column by four-inch ad or just distrust of business. I wouldn’t hazard a […] more »

Mark Glaser, our host on Mediashift, asked: “ … is there something (hyper-local news sites) can offer the businesses beyond just a display ad or a place in an online directory? Is there a more creative partnership they might have, where reader/contributors could give the business honest feedback on the site — positive and negative? […] more »

Beating the street looking for a job in journalism is not a pleasant thought these days. As the firing of editors at places like the LA Times over newsroom staff cuts demonstrates, out-of-work journalists are totally divorced from the decision making that affects their lives. This is because the big decisions in this industry are […] more »

Chances are you’ll be getting a notice regarding changes in privacy policies from the various web sites from hgtv.com (Home and Garden) to myspace and other publishers and advertising related businesses associated with the Internet Advertising Bureau. These changes in privacy policies are the result of a new marketing approach endorsed by the Internet Advertising […] more »

I have an admission to make. I really don’t like blogs. They are not conversational and they don’t build a community. I love forums because they are conversational and with a little nurturing, they can blossom into a full-blown on-line community. This is true whether the common interests are cars, collectibles or a geographic community. […] more »

My challenge has been summed up as making money from a hyperlocal community web site or, said differently “It is the sales, stupid.” (see previous entry) That is a gross oversimplification. What my 21st Century Newchallenge is all about is building a sustainable business model based on connecting a community. That means it is always […] more »

It is the sales stupid! No it is not … it is the network (Check the companion entry It is the network stupid) that determines if you attract a viable audience that generates monetize-able journalism … I.e. journalism that attracts a salable audience. My belief has always been that sales will come when you have […] more »

This scene took place at the Journalism that Matters conference in DC and it relates to one of those little epiphanies we all wish we experienced more often. It was in one of the breakout sessions at the conference where the future of the media was being discussed. There was one of the blindingly bright […] more »